Farm tractors: 1935-1950

December 28, 2007|By Delmer Dooley, Special to the Farm Forum

By 1936 tractor production in the United States was at 221,200 units, and as WW II ended, demand for tractors skyrocketed. International Harvester led the way with a market share of more than 40 percent. John Deere enjoyed about a 20 percent market share and Allis-Chalmers had about 11 percent, Oliver did business with about 10 percent of the market and Minneapolis-Moline about five percent. Case production was estimated at about 10 percent and Massey Harris and a few smaller manufacturers made up the rest. Tractor prices and values were very attractive in the late thirties and there were many improvements made on the early models. Row-crop models were very popular, and most companies offered very liberal credit terms. Many farmers sold or retired their last team of horses. Others kept their faithful workhorses just in case their new tractor didn't work out. The market share was to continue to be volatile for a few years as the new way of farming gradually caught on. Ford Company brought out its 9N and within a year or two it ranked third in production. Allis-Chalmers also increased its market share with the manufacture of more than 34,700 tractors by 1940. The industry came to realize that appearance, and a bit of pizzaz, too, helped sell tractors. Most tractors took a new appearance in styling in 1939 when major companies changed the look of most models. John Deere hired Henry Dreyfuss to design and style its tractors. This included changes in grills, hoods and some enclosed parts. This was to be the profile of most tractors from this year forward. International Harvester styled the newly manufactured H and M Farmalls in 1939. The bright red paint was adopted in 1936. Allis-Chalmers brought out a styled WC and other models, including streamlined hoods, bullet type gas tanks, radiator grills and fan fenders. Case, Minneapolis Moline, Ford, Massey Harris, and others, in order to remain competitive, had also styled their tractors. Oliver offered a streamlined and fully enclosed engine. During WW II tractor production fell sharply. In 1943 only 134,000 tractors were manufactured. With this war-imposed shortage, some tractors found their way onto a black market. Companies, by order of the War Production Board, could not raise prices. At some auctions, drawings were made among buyers, as a ceiling was imposed. Price and production controls were removed in 1947, and by the end of the year 470,600 tractors were made and sold. Farmers had money and brisk sales continued for the next few years. GI's returning to the farm were eager to resume work in the fields, and were somewhat experienced with the mechanizations they observed and worked with during the war. By the end of the 1940's, International's market share was in first place, followed by Ford, John Deere, and Allis-Chalmers. The 1950's began with a still pent-up demand for tractors. Although it had been marketed since 1923, the John Deere D was the largest selling standard tractor in 1948 - a record for a tractor model.